What are the top offices in the South West?

In the next edition of Business Leader Magazine, we look at the top five offices in the South West.

As a preview to that feature, we looked at the current Aurora development at Finzels Reach in Bristol – the highest profile construction in the region.

Aurora, the new speculative landmark headquarters office building under construction at Finzels Reach in Bristol is by some measure the greenest in the region.

It is the only office in the South West – indeed, outside London – to have achieved the highest ‘BREEAM Outstanding’ sustainability rating, under the new toughest rating scheme.

The 95,000 sq ft building is part of Finzels Reach, the new quarter being created in the heart of Bristol by local developer Cubex and funded by Palmer Capital.

Sustainability has played a key role in the design of Aurora from the outset, with running costs typically less than half of those needed for other Grade A office space.

Peter Walford, director at Cubex, said: “We’ve already signed up our first tenant, intellectual property specialists Mewburn Ellis, who’ve taken the first floor. This deal confirms our belief that there is demand in Bristol for a building of this quality and with the highest sustainability credentials that combine to produce an outstanding place to work, with substantially lower running costs.”

Aurora will consist of six storeys, with a typical floorplate measuring 15,500 sq ft. Its striking façade and double height reception area will lead through to a central glass atrium which will extend to the full height of the building.

Key ‘green’ features including rooftop mounted solar panels, intelligent LED lighting, water saving technology and an emphasis on creating a healthy working environment, with fresh air and plenty of natural light from the floor to ceiling glazing. There will be bicycle storage facilities, lockers and showers on site, whilst occupiers on the sixth floor will benefit from a roof terrace garden with views across the city.

The latest edition of Business Leader Magazine will be hitting desks over the next few weeks. Who do you think will make the top five?